Moccasin Lake Nature Park is a 51-acre park and
nature preserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...
located at 2750 Park Trail Lane in
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, northwest of Tampa and St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2020 census, the city had a populat ...
. Opened on August 7, 1982, the park features trails, boardwalks, an
interpretive center, a sanctuary for
birds of prey, a playground, a butterfly garden and turtle pond, and the man-made lake for which the park is named. Pets, with the exception of
guide or
assistance dogs, and fishing are prohibited in the park.
History
Prior to its conception, Moccasin Lake Nature Park was a
wetland
A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...
wilderness area that was being considered for use as a space for low-income housing, before the City of Clearwater decided to turn it into a nature preserve.
The lake for which the park is named was a result of the construction of the nearby
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie.
The highway's southern ...
in the early 20th century, when engineers removed large amounts of dirt to build an embankment to form an overpass between
Florida State Road 590 and Drew Street; the pit that remained filled with rainwater and became Moccasin Lake.
During its development, Moccasin Lake Nature Park was vandalized several times.
The park opened to the public on Saturday, August 7, 1982; between 800 and 1,000 people visited the park in its opening weekend.
In 1983, analysis of water samples taken from Moccasin Lake found deficient levels of oxygen, which can lead to
fish kill
The term fish kill, known also as fish die-off, refers to a localized die-off of fish populations which may also be associated with more generalized mortality of aquatic life.University of Florida. Gainesville, FL (2005) ''Plant Management in Fl ...
.
In May 1984, the City of Clearwater installed a $2,000
water aeration system to increase the lake's oxygen levels.
Raptor Sanctuary
Located in the park is Moccasin Lake Raptor Sanctuary, an area that houses various injured, human-dependent, or otherwise non-releasable
birds of prey in enclosures. Among the sanctuary's residents are Elvis, a
black vulture from
Homosassa
Homosassa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Citrus County, Florida, Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,578 at the 2010 census.
History
Homosassa is derived from a Seminole Indian name meaning either "river of fishes ...
that
imprinted on humans and was adopted by the sanctuary in 1987;
Penelope, a
bald eagle
The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche as ...
; Lulu, a
great horned owl; and Sunshine, a
swallow-tailed kite.
References
Further reading
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External links
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Official websiteof the Moccasin Lake Raptor Sanctuary
{{Protected areas of Florida
1982 establishments in Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Lakes of Pinellas County, Florida
Nature centers in Florida
Parks in Pinellas County, Florida